Gwendolyn Ann Downs
Agency patch
Patrolman

Gwendolyn Ann Downs

Louisville Police Department — Louisville, KY
Felonious
End of Watch May 16, 1977
Age 26
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Gender Female

Incident

Patrolman Gwen Downs was shot and killed after she and her partner responded to a call at a parking lot of a fast food restaurant at 700 West Broadway. After the officers had waited several minutes and were unable to find anyone who had called the police, Patrolman Down's estranged husband pulled into the lot. As she approached him he pulled out a gun and shot her before committing suicide.

Survivors

Patrolman Downs served with the Louisville Police Department for four years and is survived by her two daughters.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Downs gave the Louisville Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Downs.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Louisville, Jefferson County, KY
Platform Identity lpd.jefferson.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 16, 1977
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 26
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Gwendolyn is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1977, 128 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 36th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Gwendolyn was 26. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Gwendolyn had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where she stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

Her people

Louisville Police Department has 91 officers remembered here, Gwendolyn among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Gwendolyn Ann Downs

Louisville Police Department · End of Watch May 16, 1977

Where the Name Is Cut

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